dewey



(No Model.)

M. W. DEWEY.

METHOD OF UTILIZING ELECTRICITY IN THE FORMATION OF METALLIC CARTRIDGECASES.

No. 438,409. Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

mmmu INVENTOR,

mm M ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARK TV. DETVEY, OF SYRACUSE, NETV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE DETVEYCORPORATION, OF SAME PLACE.

METHOD OF UTILIZING ELECTRICITY IN THE FORMATION OF METALLICCARTRIDGE-CASES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,409, dated October14, 1890.

Original application filed May 17, 1890, Serial No, 352,159. Divided andthis application filed August 8, 1890- Serial No.361,413. (N0 model.)

T0 or whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK TV. DEWEY, of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in the Method of Utilizing Electricity in the Formation ofMetallic Cartridge-Gases, (Case No. 69,) of which the following, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to the process of manufacturing cartridge-casesfrom sheet metal or thin metal of uniform thickness, and is a divisionof my prior application, filed May 17, 1890, Serial No. 352,159.

The purpose of my invention is to keep the metal annealed or in asoftened condition during a part of if not the entire formation of thecartridge-case, and to decrease the number of dies as well as the numberof pressings heretofore required in forming or shaping the case, andalso to save time and handling.

The object of my invention, also, is to provide a process or method bywhich stronger and superior cartridge-cases can be produced. Theformation of cases from thicker sheet metal is allowed, and variousmetals can be employed in the manufacture of cases, heretofore incapableof being pressed.

My invention consists, essentially, in electrically heating the metal tobe formed into the case, preferably by passing an electricheating-current through the same before or while the case is formed orbefore its completion.

My invention consists, also, in electrically heating the metal sheet ordisk while it is formed over or within a punch or die by press uresuitably and gradually applied and as hereinafter described.

My invention consists, also, in certain improved processes involving theapplication of a heating-current of electricity to the formation ofsheet-metal hollow ware, and also in certain apparatus and devicesuseful in practicing the processes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of my cartridge-stamping apparatus to be used in prac- 5oticing my method. Fig. 2 shows a headingmachine for heading the case bymy method, and Fig. 3 illustrates the shape the case as sumes atdifferent stages of the process.

Referring specifically to the drawings, Fig. 5 5

1 represents a screw stamping or drawing press adapted to form the casesaccording to my method, and it consists of a metal frame A, securelybolted to a table or bench A and containing or supporting the stampingdevices. -The press is shown partly in section to more clearly showinternal parts of the apparatus and to aid in describing the same.

13 is a strip of sheet metalbetween the punch O and the drawing-die l),and is shown slightly from the lower part of the frame by insulation Z)to prevent the current short-circuiting through the apparatus. I

G is the screw that operates or lowers the punch O, and H is the screwthat raises the drawing-die I), with its annular cutting-die I,

to cut a disk from the sheet B, and to make electric contact between thecenter of the disk and the punch O and the circumferential portion ofsaid disk and the cutting-punch E. Electric contact is made as soon asthe cutting punch and die press the metal on opposite sides. The metalis then rapidly heated and softened by the current passing through thesame from the punch Qto the cutting-punch E, which also constitutes theclamp or holder for the circumferential portion of the disk. Thecutting-punch E is hollowed outon its under side, so that it cannot comein contact with the sheet immediately except at and near itscutting-edge, and the 5 lower end of the punch O is on a line with orOne of the ter- 70 slightly below said cutting-edge of the punch, sothat contact will be made between both of said parts and the sheet atthe same time, and to make the path for the current through the disk aslong as possible and to evenly heat the same. When the metal is heatedsufficiently, the dies D and I are raised still more to cut the diskfrom the strip or sheet and clamp the same to hold the metal smoothbetween E and I D. Then the screw G is used to rapidly force the punch Cdownward, so that the metal disk is pressed into the die D and made toreceive a corresponding form or cup shape. As the sheet or disk is thusforced into the die, its circumferential portions are drawn out fromunder the clamp, and the strain or tension thus exerted upon the metalefiectually insures smoothness in the com pleted article, and alsoenables a deeper cup to be produced at a single operation. The currentmay be interrupted, if desired, during the latter part of the operation,or may not be applied until after the case is partly formed, as themetal may be pressed to a certain extentbefore it is necessary to heatit; but the op eration is so rapid that it is preferably heated at thecommencement of the operation, as hereinbefore described.

I do not limit myself, therefore, to electrically heating the metal forthe case while it is being pressed, nor while it is in position in thepress, as it may be removed therefrom after it is partly formed,electrically heated or softened, and then reinserted in a press andfinished.

A cam-press may be employed instead of a screw-press, if desired.

I do not limit myself to forming the case complete by a singleimpression, as it may be necessary or desirable to make severalimpressions thereon before it is completed.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that in forming acartridge-case by my method I preferably first cut a disk, as shown at 1in Fig. 3, from a sheet or strip of thin metal, and then form the casewhile it is electrically heated by a suitable force to press said diskwithin a die to form a cup 2, somewhat longer than the finished case toallow for the formation of the head. The case is then trimmed, as usual,to remove its rough edge formed by pressing. Then the case is placed ina suitable countersunk die 70, so that the closed end is held projectedsufficiently, and the die containing the case is passed in theheadingpress (shown in Fig. 2) beneath the heading-punch 19 thereof,which descends by means of the handle j to flatten the closed end of thetube or case into the countersink. The surplus length of metal in thecase is thus taken up in the formation of the head, as shown at 3 and 4in Fig. 3.

In the heading-press the dies k and p are connected with the conductorsc and c, and the current flows from one die to the other through thecartridge-case. The dies are insulated from each other by insulation 1to prevent the current short-circuiting through the frame. The die 19 ofthe heading-press is returned to its original position by means of thespring j.

Although the stamping-presses shown in the drawings are designed to beoperated by hand, it will be obvious that they may be operated by anysuitable and well-known means.

It will be also apparent that the .sheet of metal or disk may be by thismethod maintained in a heated, softened, or annealed condition duringthe entire formation of the case, if desired, and that with suitablecurrentregulating devices in circuit the sheet may be kept at anytemperature desired without danger of burning or heating the sheet metaltoo much.

The sheet metal may be fed to the forming apparatuses and the formedcases withdrawn therefrom in any suitable mannerand by any suitable andwell-known means heretofore used in connection with similarcartridgeforming apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desi're'tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described improvement in processes of manufacturingcartridge-cases, which consists in forming the case by drawing orstamping the same from thin metal and electrically heating the caseduring its formation, as and for the purpose described.

2. The herein-described improvement in processes of manufacturingcartridge-cases, which consists in forming the case by drawing orstamping the same from a sheet of thin metal and electricallymaintaining the case in a heated condition during its formation.

3. The herein-described improvement in processes of manufacturingcartridge-cases, which consists in forming the case by drawing orstamping the same from a sheet of thin metal and annealing the caseduring its formation or before its completion by passing aheating-current of electricity through the same. i r

4. The herein-described improvement in processes of manufacturingcartridge-cases, which consists in forming the case by drawing orstamping the same from a sheet of thin metal and electrically heatingthe case during its formation by passing a heating-current ofelectricity through the same and from one die to the other, as and forthe purpose described.

5. The herein-described improvement in processes, of manufacturingcartridge-cases, consisting in cutting a disk of metal from a sheet,then drawing or stamping the fulllength cup from the disk at oneoperation while the blank is electrically heated,and then heading andfinishing the cup, as desired, to complete the case.

6. The herein-described improvement in IIO processes of manufacturingcartridge-cases, IntestimonywhereofIhavehereunto signed which consistsin forming the case from a my name this 6th day of August, 1890. singlepiece of metal of uniform thickness by drawing, swaging, or otherwiseshaping it, as MARK DEWVEY' 5 desired, and electrically heating themetal Witnesses:

during its formation or before the case is com- 0. H. DUELL,

pleted. J. J. LAASS.

